Vocational School of Justice
‘KEEP YOUR MORALE UP’
As 1 million 174 thousand 427 eight grade students and their parents are getting more anxious before the TEOG exam (placement to middle school exam), the experts are suggesting to keep the morale up and adopt and keep a positive attitude.Students will be getting tested on the subjects such as Turkish grammar and literature, mathematics, science andtechnology, foreign language, religionand ethics, and History of Revolution and Kemalism on November 25 – 26.
IUE Clinical Psychologist Merve Yavuz stated that being in a positive mind of frame would keep the students’ morale up. She said that exams were not a life or death situation, and the last days before the exam should be spent relaxing.
‘Effect of Positive Thinking’
Yavuz said that students needed to focus on their past accomplishments prior to the exam. She said, “This will help keep their morale up. They need to pay attention to their sleeping and eating habits. Using imagination in a positive way will surely help. Panicking, negative and mindless thinking would demotivate them. They need to believe that they did all they could and that they are ready to face the exam.”
‘It’s Not a Life or Death Situation’
Merve Yavuz indicated thatthe exam was not a matter of life or death, and the last days before the exam should be spent by relaxing and taking it easy. Yavuz asked students to rate the level of their anxiety between 1 to 10. She stated the following: “1 means less and 10 being very worried. When you can take control of your worries, your anxiety level will drop and you will be concentrating on the exam easily. Parents telling that they trust their children and believing that they did the best they could, would put their children at ease. Good and positive communication would comfort them and lower the anxiety caused by ‘I need to meet my parents’ expectations’ thought, and make them focus on ‘I will succeed in this exam’ thought.”